Frustration, Conflict, Stress, and Drugs

Prevented from reaching goals

Have you ever felt conflicted over a decision? Have you ever felt like what you should do (cultural influences) are contrary to what you want to do? Approach-approach conflict: occurs when you must choose between two desirable outcomes

Avoidance-avoidance conflict: occurs when you must choose between two unattractive outcomes

Approach-avoidance: occurs when one event has both attractive and unattractive features Multiple approach-avoidance conflicts: occurs when you must choose between two or more things (both desirable and undesirable features)

Due to increased frustration, can’t resolve conflict Feeling of helplessness Severe anxiety – rapid heartbeat, fatigue, breathlessness, chest pains, dizziness, fainting, feeling of doom, and headaches

Eustress Distress A. Physical changes with stress 1. Fight or flight 2. Stress hormone  adrenal gland B. Examine stress A. Holmes & Rahe, life change and stress B. Social Readjustment Rating Scale p. 450 C. Pushing too hard – stress/health D. Personal attitude – not caring about what others think

Stress & Personality Unrelieved tension – speak out when things really matter (balance of “venting” and “acting”) Personality Types Type A – aggressive, impatient, high-achieving, organized, ambitious, multi-tasking Type B – flexible, low stress levels, relaxed, open to change

General Adaptation Syndrome – too much stress can lead to collapse Alarm reaction – preparing for emergency (psychological/physical signs) Resistance – trying to resist emergency or stress, desire to restore balance Exhaustion – if stress doesn’t let up, we quit

Chemical make-up of drugs similar to that of chemicals already in nerve cells. When we take in a drug, it mimics or blocks naturally occurring neurotransmitters in the brain. Tolerance, withdrawal, dependence

Alcohol Chemical effects: depressant/antianxiety Physical effects: alcohol withdrawal, hallucinations (REM rebound) Synergistic Effect – mixing drugs can be fatal Slows down brain processes Affects cerebellum and motor coordination Categorized as depressant because of its effect on our nervous system – some think it is energizing (due to expectations, lowers inhibitions)

Causes of alcoholism Heredity? Environment? Indicators – Frequent drinking, drunk 1+ times a week Increase of amount consumed in a sitting Morning drinking Going to school/work drunk Blackouts Drinking during crises Concerns - AA

Marijuana (Why d’ya wanna) Hallucinogens Effects receptors in brain that control pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory Effects on male fetus – sex characteristics

Amphetamines – effects dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephran Stimulant Feeling of excitement, freedom, energy Tolerance develops quickly Paranoia – thinking others are out to get you

Cocaine Hallucinations, mental confusion, paranoia Potent – easily absorbed in lungs when smoked and enters brain through blood stream Psychological dependence/addiction

Opiates – Heroin, morphine, opium Pain killers, and mood elevators Sedatives, depress nerve operations in brain Makes one feel good at first, then crash into a depression Physical dependence (body craves it, not just psyche) Most physically addicting because they rapidly change brain chemistry and create tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

LSD – Change perceptions of reality, sensory hallucinations, loss of identity, vivid fantasies Some amount can remain in body for weeks,

Steroids – are male sex hormones Hope to increase body size, muscle, strength Affects emotions, unrealistic sense of power/agression

In 2006, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to Of every 100,000 young people in each age group, the following number died by suicide: 1 1 Children ages 10 to 14 — 1.3 per 100,000 Adolescents ages 15 to 19 — 8.2 per 100,000 Young adults ages 20 to 24 — 12.5 per 100,000 Loss of friends, substance abuse, conflicts with family, low self-esteem,

Overcoming substance abuse Support Programs Commitment, intrinsic motivation Do not give up

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